Online class overview
This online class focuses on the boat-on-boat decisions that shape every race. You’ll learn how to position your boat relative to the competition at each phase of the race course, from winning a clean lane off the start line to protecting your lead on the final beat. We’ll cover when to cover and when to split, how to use the lee bow and safe leeward position, how to manage crossings and laylines, and how to approach and exit marks without losing places. When it pays to concede and play your stronger hand later. Throughout the online class, tactics are tied back to strategy, so every move helps get you closer to where you want to be rather than winning a battle you didn’t need to fight. We’ll also look at how the racing rules shape your options, so you can play the angles confidently and fairly. The result is a clear decision-making framework for the moments that matter most.
Who is this online class for?
This online class is for any racer who has ever had a great plan and a terrible result. If you’ve been rolled off the start line, tacked on until you gave up, or watched three boats sneak inside you at the leeward mark while you were busy being polite, this online class is made for you. It’s ideal for skippers who want to make faster, better calls, tacticians who want a sharper toolkit, and crew who want to understand the “why” behind the tack. It pairs naturally with our Race the Course, Not the Fleet seminar on strategy, but works perfectly on its own. Whether you race dinghies, one-designs, or big boats under handicap, the principles apply the moment another boat gets close.
What will I learn?
You’ll come away with a practical framework for winning the key moments of a race: how to read developing situations before they happen, weigh your options, and choose the move that protects your position while keeping your strategy on track. You’ll learn when to attack and when to defend, how to use other boats to your advantage, and how to get around the course cleanly, so your speed and your strategy finally show up in the results.
List of topics:
- Strategy vs. tactics: making sure every move serves the plan
- Starting: line bias, finding a lane, and winning the first 60 seconds
- Clear air and lanes: how to get them and how to keep them
- Crossing situations: lee bow, cross, or duck, and how to choose
- Covering and splitting: when to control the fleet and when to let go
- Laylines: the danger of getting there too early and how to avoid it
- Mark approaches and roundings: windward marks, leeward marks, and gates
- Downwind tactics: using wind shadow, passing lanes, and inside position
- Finishing: closing out the race and picking up places at the line
- How the rules shape tactical choices, and how to use them confidently